The River City Blue Band Boosters is a recently revived organization that funds 99 percent of Demopolis High School’s marching band. Around twelve members make up the powerhouse that supports the 69-member band at DHS.

The fundraising efforts of the organization pay for things like transportation, uniforms, equipment, trips and lunches.

“The Band Boosters help augment the operations for the band,” President Gus Weiss said.

He also said that the Band Boosters do “anything we can that’s legal” in order to raise funds for the band. Concession sales, fruit sales, merchandise sales, coupon sales and cow patty bingo are all right up the alley of the Band Boosters.

Between the new uniforms for the growing band, River City Blue’s upcoming performance in the Sugar Bowl, the long-sought upgrades for the band room and other day-to-day expenses, the Band Boosters have set their sights on raising $100,000 for the marching band in 2018.

“We’re looking to raise a whole heck of a lot of money this year,” he said.

If you think that you have to have a child in the band in order to join the organization, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Anyone and everyone can be a Band Booster.

“There are no restrictions whatsoever,” Weiss said.

There are no dues for members unless they want to have voting rights. If so, they must pay an annual $25 fee.

Weiss said that River City Blue provides an outlet for kids that do not participate in sports and teaches them to be professional.

“The Band Boosters as an organization appreciates music and we’re trying to give the kids something to do that’s going to stay with them for a long time to come.”

Director of Bands Demetrius Scott said the Band Boosters are a “very good group” that work hard to fill the needs of the band.

“We wouldn’t have the things that we have if it wasn’t for the Band Boosters. They are a huge supplement to what we need to do in the year,” he said, later adding “It’s really good to have people like that in your corner.”

The Band Boosters meet on the second Monday of every month in the band room at DHS at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public except when they enter executive session.

For more information about the Band Boosters and their fundraising efforts, Weiss encourages the public to attend one of their meetings or to contact him at g_weiss@bellsouth.net.

(This column originally appeared in the Wednesday, February 7 issue of the Demopolis Times.)